When you start looking for care for a loved one, you quickly run into a thicket of abbreviations: DPS, ZOL, ZPO, senior home, hospice. They sound similar, but they mean different things, differing in funding, the scope of medical care, and who can use them. This article sorts out the terms so you know what you're actually looking for and who to call first.
Social welfare home (DPS)
A DPS is a social facility, intended for people who, due to age, illness or disability, cannot function independently and need round-the-clock care, though not necessarily intensive treatment. Admission is based on an administrative decision, and the cost is set by law: a resident pays at most 70% of their income, with the municipality or family covering the rest. It's financially stable, but often comes with a long queue.
Care and treatment facility (ZOL)
A ZOL is a medical facility, for people after hospitalisation or with chronic illness who no longer need hospital treatment but require round-the-clock nursing care and rehabilitation. A stay in a ZOL is usually temporary and funded by the national health fund (NFZ), though the patient covers part of the board and accommodation costs. It's a good option for someone who needs intensive medical care, for example after a stroke or a fracture.
Nursing and care facility (ZPO)
A ZPO is very similar to a ZOL: it also provides round-the-clock nursing care and rehabilitation for chronically ill people who no longer need hospital treatment. The differences between a ZOL and a ZPO are small in practice and mostly come down to the facility's organisation and profile. From a family's perspective, both mean care with a clear medical component.
Private care home and senior home
A private care home, also called a senior home, is a commercial facility you join through a contract, with no administrative decision and no queue. It offers round-the-clock care, meals, activation activities, and often rehabilitation too. The cost is covered by the resident or family. The main advantages are quick admission and usually a higher standard; the drawback is a higher price. We expand on the differences between public and private facilities in our article on public vs private care homes.
Day care home for seniors
Not all care has to be round-the-clock. A day care home provides care, meals and activities during the day, while the person returns home at night. It's an option for people who are still fairly independent and for families combining care with work. We cover it in more detail in our article on the day care home for seniors, who it's for and how it works.
Inpatient hospice
A hospice is a palliative care facility, intended for people with advanced, incurable illness. The goal isn't to treat the underlying disease, but to provide comfort, relieve pain, and support the family. It's a completely different kind of care than a senior home, and worth considering when dignity and quality of life in the final stage become the priority.
Which facility to choose? Start with these questions
- Does your loved one mainly need medical care, or rather support with everyday functioning?
- Should the care be round-the-clock and permanent, or is daytime help enough?
- What is the budget, and do you qualify for municipal or NFZ funding?
- How quickly is a place needed, can you wait in a queue?
- Is the health condition stable, or changing quickly?
How not to get lost in the abbreviations
Choosing the right type of facility is half the battle, because calling a ZOL when you need a senior home only drags out the search. If you're unsure which form fits your parent's situation, you can use our free help choosing a care home. You describe your loved one's health and needs, and we'll suggest what type of facility to look for and put forward specific options.
Behind every abbreviation is a real difference in what care looks like. The better you understand these differences, the less time you'll waste on facilities that don't match your family's needs anyway.
